Jean Sibelius - Sibelius Edition, Vol. 7 - Songs

Finland's Jean Sibelius is perhaps the most important composer associated with nationalism in music and one of the most influential in the development of the symphony and symphonic poem. Sibelius was born in southern Finland, the second of three children. His physician father left the family bankrupt, owing to his financial extravagance, a trait that, along with heavy drinking, he would pass on to Jean. Jean showed talent on the violin and at age nine composed his first work for it, Rain Drops. In 1885 Sibelius entered the University of Helsinki to study law, but after only a year found himself drawn back to music. He took up composition studies with Martin Wegelius and violin with Mitrofan Wasiliev, then Hermann Csillag. During this time he also became a close friend of Busoni. Though Sibelius auditioned for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, he would come to realize he was not suited to a career as a violinist.
In 1889 Sibelius traveled to Berlin to study counterpoint with Albert Becker, where he also was exposed to new music, particularly that of Richard Strauss. In Vienna he studied with Karl Goldmark and then Robert Fuchs, the latter said to be his most effective teacher. Now Sibelius began pondering the composition of the Kullervo Symphony, based on the Kalevala legends. Sibelius returned to Finland, taught music, and in June 1892, married Aino Järnefelt, daughter of General Alexander Järnefelt, head of one of the most influential families in Finland. The premiere of Kullervo in April 1893 created a veritable sensation, Sibelius thereafter being looked upon as the foremost Finnish composer. The Lemminkäinen suite, begun in 1895 and premiered on April 13, 1896, has come to be regarded as the most important music by Sibelius up to that time.
In 1897 the Finnish Senate voted to pay Sibelius a short-term pension, which some years later became a lifetime conferral. The honor was in lieu of his loss of an important professorship in composition at the music school, the position going to Robert Kajanus. The year 1899 saw the premiere of Sibelius' First Symphony, which was a tremendous success, to be sure, but not quite of the magnitude of that of Finlandia (1899; rev. 1900).
In the next decade Sibelius would become an international figure in the concert world. Kajanus introduced several of the composer's works abroad; Sibelius himself was invited to Heidelberg and Berlin to conduct his music. In March 1901, the Second Symphony was received as a statement of independence for Finland, although Sibelius always discouraged attaching programmatic ideas to his music. His only concerto, for violin, came in 1903. The next year Sibelius built a villa outside of Helsinki, named "Ainola" after his wife, where he would live for his remaining 53 years. After a 1908 operation to remove a throat tumor, Sibelius was implored to abstain from alcohol and tobacco, a sanction he followed until 1915. It is generally believed that the darkening of mood in his music during these years owes something to the health crisis.
Sibelius made frequent trips to England, having visited first in 1905 at the urging of Granville Bantock. In 1914 he traveled to Norfolk, CT, where he conducted his newest work The Oceanides. Sibelius spent the war years in Finland working on his Fifth Symphony. Sibelius traveled to England for the last time in 1921. Three years later he completed his Seventh Symphony, and his last work was the incidental music for The Tempest (1925). For his last 30 years Sibelius lived a mostly quiet life, working only on revisions and being generally regarded as the greatest living composer of symphonies. In 1955 his 90th birthday was widely celebrated throughout the world with many performances of his music. Sibelius died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1957.

From Allmusic

Tracks CD 1:

01. Serenad, JS 167 (version for voice and piano) [0:02:54.25]
02. Medan nordanvinden gnyr (While the North Wind Roars) [0:01:19.55]
03. Nacken (The Watersprite), JS 138 [0:03:28.31]
04. Da varldar annu skapade ej voro, JS 56 [0:02:30.24]
05. En visa (A Song), JS 71 [0:01:30.10]
06. Solen slog himlen rod… (The Sun Reddened the Sky) [0:01:38.37]
07. Orgier (Orgies), JS 143 [0:02:23.51]
08. Skogsraet (The Wood Nymph), JS 171 [0:06:47.10]
09. Hostkvall (Autumn Evening) (fragment) [0:02:27.16]
10. Flickan gick en vintermogon (The Maiden Went One Winter Morning) (fragment) [0:00:51.02]
11. Jag kysser dig ej (I Kiss You and Weary Not) [0:01:00.55]
12. Lojet var utan hem (Wit Was Without a Home) [0:02:31.67]
13. Likhet (Alikeness), JS 120 [0:01:43.14]
14. Den forsta kyssen (The First Kiss), JS 57 [0:02:15.31]
15. Tule, tule, kultani (Come, my Sweetheart), JS 211 [0:01:21.09]
16. 7 Songs, Op. 13 (version for voice and piano) - No. 1. Under strandens granar (Under the Fir-Trees) [0:05:26.70]
17. No. 2. Kyssens hopp (The Kiss's Hope) [0:02:13.72]
18. No. 3. Hjartats morgon (The Heart's Morning) [0:02:35.08]
19. No. 4. Varen flyktar hastigt (Spring Flies Speedily) [0:01:38.09]
20. No. 5. Drommen (The Dream) [0:01:48.08]
21. No. 6. Till Frigga (To Frigga) [0:04:04.10]
22. No. 7. Jagargossen (The Young Huntsman) [0:02:57.71]
23. 7 Songs, Op. 17 (version for voice and piano) - No. 1. Se'n har jag ej fragat mera (Since Then I Have Questioned No Further) [0:02:17.13]
24. No. 2. Sov in (Go to Sleep) [0:01:46.08]
25. No. 3. Fagellek (Play of the Birds) [0:01:36.09]
26. No. 4. Vilse (Astray) [0:00:57.09]
27. No. 5. En slanda (A Dragonfly) [0:04:28.10]
28. No. 6. Illalle (To Evening) [0:01:19.10]
29. No. 7. Lastu lainehilla (Driftwood) [0:01:18.60]
30. Koskenlaskijan morsiamet (The Rapid-Rider's Brides), Op. 33 (version for voice and piano) [0:12:03.43]

Tracks CD 2:

01. Kung Kristian II (King Christian II), Op. 27: No. 4. Sangen om korsspindeln (Fool's Song of the Spider) (version for voice and piano) [0:03:39.11]
02. Segelfahrt (Sailing), JS 166 [0:01:36.27]
03. Souda, souda, sinisorsa (Row, row, duck), JS 180 [0:01:17.13]
04. Andantino in E flat major, JS 42 (preliminary version of Sav, sav, susa, Op. 36, No. 4) [0:02:16.43]
05. 6 Songs, Op. 36 (version for voice and piano) - No. 1. Svarta rosor (Black Roses) [0:02:01.08]
06. No. 2. Men min fagel marks dock icke (But My Bird is Long in Homing) [0:02:26.10]
07. No. 3. Bollspelet vid Trianon (Tennis at Trianon) [0:01:28.10]
08. No. 4. Sav, sav, susa (Reed, reed, rustle) [0:02:40.09]
09. No. 5. Marssnon (The March Snow) [0:01:24.11]
10. No. 6. Demanten pa marssnon (The Diamond on the March Snow) [0:02:09.11]
11. 5 Songs, Op. 37 (version for voice and piano) - No. 1. Den forsta kyssen (The First Kiss) [0:01:58.10]
12. No. 2. Lasse liten (Little Lasse) [0:02:03.08]
13. No. 3. Soluppgang (Sunrise) [0:02:30.10]
14. No. 4. Var det en drom? (Was It a Dream?) [0:02:05.08]
15. No. 5. Flickan kom ifran sin alsklings mote (The girl returned from meeting her lover) [0:03:03.53]
16. Jag ville, jag vore i Indialand (I wish I were in India) (alternative version) [0:02:54.53]
17. 5 Songs, Op. 38 (version for voice and piano) - No. 1. Hostkvall (Autumn Evening) [0:04:51.09]
18. No. 2. Pa verandan vid havet (On a Balcony by the Sea) [0:03:43.14]
19. No. 3. I natten (In the Night) [0:04:02.13]
20. No. 4. Harpolekaren och hans son (The Harper and his Son) [0:03:46.01]
21. No. 5. Jag ville, jag vore i Indialand (I wish I were in India) [0:03:12.71]
22. Pelleas and Melisande. JS 147: No. 6. The 3 Blind Sisters (version for voice and piano) [0:03:49.62]
23. 6 Songs, Op. 50 - No. 1. Lenzgesang (Spring Song) [0:02:28.24]
24. No. 2. Sehnsucht (Longing) [0:02:00.10]
25. No. 3. Im Feld ein Madchen singt (In the Field a Maid Sings) [0:03:04.10]
26. No. 4. Aus banger Brust (From Anxious Heart) [0:02:25.09]
27. No. 5. Die stille Stadt (The Silent City) [0:02:43.10]
28. No. 6. Rosenlied (Song of the Roses) [0:01:47.38]
29. Erloschen (Extinguished), JS 73 [0:03:18.36]

Tracks CD 3:

01. No. 1. Jubal [0:04:36.06]
02. No. 2. Teodora [0:04:23.13]
03. Vanskapens blomma (The Flower of Friendship), JS 215 (preliminary version) [0:03:03.36]
04. 8 Songs, Op. 57 (version for voice and piano) - No. 1. Alven och snigeln (The River and the Snail) [0:02:52.07]
05. No. 2. En blomma stod vid vagen (A Flower in the Path) [0:02:12.09]
06. No. 3. Kvarhjulet (The Millwheel) [0:02:57.09]
07. No. 4. Maj (May) [0:02:42.09]
08. No. 5. Jag ar ett trad (The Tree) [0:02:52.07]
09. No. 6. Hertig Magnus (Baron Magnus) [0:03:23.02]
10. No. 7. Vanskapens blomma (The Flower of Friendship) [0:02:41.66]
11. No. 8. Nacken (The Elf King) [0:02:22.60]
12. No. 1. Kom nu hit, Dod (Come away, Death) [0:03:23.23]
13. No. 2. Hallila, uti storm och i regn (Hey, ho, the Wind and the Rain) [0:01:07.67]
14. 8 Songs, Op. 61 (version for voice and piano) - No. 1. Langsamt som kvallskyn (Slowly as the Evening Sky) [0:02:16.50]
15. No. 2. Vattenplask (Lapping Waters) [0:03:35.74]
16. No. 3. Nar jag drommer (When I dream) [0:03:10.23]
17. No. 4. Romeo [0:01:46.60]
18. No. 5. Romans (Romance) [0:03:49.55]
19. No. 6. Dolce far niente [0:01:45.66]
20. No. 7. Fafang onskan (Idle Wishes) [0:03:16.43]
21. No. 8. Vartagen (The Spell of Springtide) [0:02:06.58]
22. Arioso, Op. 3 (version for voice and piano) [0:04:15.45]
23. 5 Christmas Songs, Op. 1 (version for voice and piano) - No. 1. Nu star jul vid snoig port (Now Christmas stands at the snowy gate) [0:01:51.16]
24. No. 2. Nu sa kommer julen (Now Christmas is coming) [0:02:21.48]
25. No. 3. Det morknar ute (Outside it is getting dark) [0:02:51.51]
26. No. 4. Giv mig ej glans, ej guld, ej prakt (Give me no splendour, gold or pomp) [0:03:48.43]
27. No. 5. On hanget korkeat, nietokset (High are the snowdrifts) [0:02:39.59]

Tracks CD 4:

01. Luonnotar, Op. 70 (version for voice and piano) [0:08:58.21]
02. 6 Songs, Op. 72 (version for voice and piano) (excerpts) - No. 3. Kyssen (The Kiss) [0:02:28.10]
03. No. 4. Kaiutar (The Echo Nymph) [0:03:17.10]
04. No. 5. Der Wanderer und der Bach [0:00:52.11]
05. No. 6. Hundra vagar har min tanke (A Hundred Ways) [0:02:15.73]
06. Tanken (The Thought), JS 192 [0:01:37.32]
07. 6 Songs, Op. 86 - No. 1. Varfornimmelser (The Coming of Spring) [0:01:17.13]
08. No. 2. Langtan heter min arvedel (Vain longings are my heritage) [0:03:17.10]
09. No. 3. Dold Forening (Hidden Union) [0:00:58.10]
10. No. 4. Och finns det en tanke? (And is there a thought?) [0:02:19.10]
11. No. 5. Sangarlon (The Singer's Reward) [0:01:50.08]
12. No. 6. I systrar, I broder, I alskande par (Ye sisters, ye brothers, ye loving couples!) [0:02:13.00]
13. 6 Songs, Op. 88 - No. 1. Blasippan (The Anemone) [0:00:47.10]
14. No. 2. De bagge rosorna (The Two Roses) [0:01:16.08]
15. No. 3. Vitsippan (The Wood Anemone) [0:01:19.10]
16. No. 4. Sippan (The Anemone) [0:01:00.10]
17. No. 5. Tornet (The Thorn) [0:02:10.33]
18. No. 6. Blommans ode (The Flower's Destiny) [0:01:32.31]
19. 6 Songs, Op. 90 - No. 1. Norden (The North) [0:02:09.42]
20. No. 2. Hennes budskap (Her Message) [0:01:36.09]
21. No. 3. Morgonen (The Morning) [0:02:29.19]
22. No. 4. Fagelfangaren (The Bird-Catcher) [0:01:31.43]
23. No. 5. Sommarnatten (Summer Night) [0:02:52.00]
24. No. 6. Vem styrde hit din vag? (Who brought you here?) [0:03:13.03]
25. Kullervo, Op. 7: Kullervon valitus (Kullervo's Lament) (version for voice and piano) [0:01:57.16]
26. Mummon syntymapaivana (Birthday Song to Grandmother), JS 136 [0:01:47.17]
27. Autrefois, Op. 96b (version for 2 voices and piano) [0:05:33.57]
28. Sma flickorna (Little Girls), JS 174 [0:03:18.22]
29. Narciss (Narcissus), JS 140 [0:01:53.58]
30. Siltavahti (The Bridge Guard), JS 170b (version for voice and piano) [0:02:31.08]
31. Belshazzar's Feast, JS 48: No. 2b. The Jewish Girl's Song (version for voice and piano, "Solitude") [0:02:58.45]
32. Hymn to Thais, the Unforgettable, JS 97 [0:02:25.30]

Tracks CD 5:

01. Serenad, JS 167 (preliminary version) [0:02:58.63]
02. 7 Songs, Op. 13 (preliminary versions) (excerpts) - No. 2. Kyssens hopp (The Kiss's Hope) [0:02:25.44]
03. No. 3. Hjartats morgon (The Heart's Morning) [0:02:30.27]
04. No. 5. Drommen (The Dream) [0:02:08.33]
05. Kullervo, Op. 7: Kullervon Wehruf (Kullervo's Lament) (first version) (version for voice and piano) [0:02:17.59]
06. No. 1. Se'n har jag ej fragat mera (Since Then I Questioned No Further) [0:02:43.17]
07. No. 6. Illalle (To Evening) [0:01:54.49]
08. Soluppgang (Sunrise), JS 87 (preliminary version) [0:02:20.22]
09. Belshazzar's Feast, JS 48: No. 2b. The Jewish Girl's Song (first version) (version for voice and piano) [0:02:56.31]
10. 6 Songs, Op. 72: No. 6. Hundra vagar (100 Ways) (preliminary version) (version for voice and piano) [0:02:18.71]
11. 2 Songs, Op. 35: No. 2. Teodora (preliminary version) [0:04:47.24]
12. Hymn to Thais, the Unforgettable, JS 97 (first version) [0:02:15.52]
13. No. 1. Kom nu hit, dod! (Come Away, Death!) [0:03:17.45]
14. No. 2. Hallila, uti storm och i regn (Hey, ho, the Wind and the Rain) [0:02:13.59]
15. 8 Songs, Op. 61: No. 6. Dolce far niente (preliminary version) (version for voice and piano) [0:01:49.41]
16. 5 Christmas Songs, Op. 1: No. 5. On hanget korkeat (High are the snowdrifts) (version for 2 voices and piano) [0:02:13.62]
17. Autrefois, Op. 96b: Pastorale (preliminary version) (arr. for 2 voices and piano) [0:03:17.59]